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Once again the issue of seniors only buildings in Leeds and Grenville gets slapped down, this time by Pickard, Nash, as always Tutak, and Demchuck. The previous time by Haley, Holman. Not one of their arguments are valid or sensible, but they are disturbing in their message.

Who elects such excuses as representatives of the people? (Tutak is not even elected). I would bet that it is mostly elderly folks, as the ones causing all the problems for these people probably do not even vote!

As for Demchuck’s reason, I find it personally offensive. Seniors requiring safe housing have too much money? Perhaps she might learn that seniors’ income in most instances is pathetically low, in fact refugees are far better treated. But, why let the facts get in the way? Seniors’ buildings would be filled and remain filled if the fear of what is happening in Leeds-Grenville housing now was removed.

If there was real caring for our seniors (the ones without money), Ms. Demchuk, why could the county not take some of the housing and have age limits (i.e., 55 and up, 55 and down). This seems reasonable to me. I have witnessed the abuse our seniors take in these multi-aged buildings and, believe me, it is not pretty. Why our seniors have to live like prisoners in their own homes is disgraceful, as are those who accept it.

Tutak, the “head” of this department appears to have little desire to “rock the boat” and put up a good fight to change the “policy”. It amazes me that this turn-back has been done in other communities. I guess they were just more willing to get it done. There seems to be no will here at all. The warden and two other mayors are overrun by those elected that have become just too comfortable. How may I ask do you people face the very voters, smiling and offering the world to them, and once elected treat them in such a horrible way? Apparently, being political or being human can not come in the same package.

Fighting for our seniors is obviously not politically correct. I guess it takes too much energy to even try.

Where I live, there was a walkway where the residents could walk to get to the main street across the lawn, away from the driveway and a much shortened distance, It was used all the time by the residents. Been there for years and years. Well guess what? It was removed! Why? Did not want to care for it in the winter. The safety of the residents mattered not. Now they must walk across the unlevelled lawn or on the driveway which is obviously more dangerous. Who cares, eh?

I have seen more often than not where what goes around comes around. Those who deny our seniors a safe place to live, perhaps, should think of that, get off their butts, work together and fight for the right thing for those who built this country, and put their complacency where it belongs.

Seniors are the fastest growing segment of our society, Ms Demchuk. Don’t think we will run out of applicants any time soon. Many live well below the poverty line. They deserve acknowledgement, and thanks, not disavowment, by the very people, for whom they made this country home.

Pat Grant, Spencerville

Kudos expressed to TLTI for art show funding

To the editor:

The fourth annual Thousand Islands Arts, Rockport Spring Art Fair was held on Victoria Day Weekend; we titled it, “Lovely Art in a Lovely Location”, and indeed it was.

Sixteen artists exhibited in the village of Rockport and at the historic old school house (Rockport Rec. Hall) located on the north side of the Thousand Islands Parkway.

Volunteers of the Rec Hall committee provided homemade soup, sandwiches, etc. at the School House Cafe for the visitors to the show.

It was a successful weekend in spite of the high water, and a bit of rain on Monday.

During this time, as Canada celebrates “150”, I’m reflecting on where I live and how fortunate I am to have been born in Canada.

As someone who has travelled a great deal to developing countries and worked in India, I cherish our safe country, our stable economy and government.

These thoughts bring me round to the point of writing this letter: To thank our Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands, the mayor and our councillors for their support in funding a Community Grant for the Rockport Spring Art Fair.

Their commitment to recognizing the importance of cultural events (that are not always economically driven) that educate and inform visitors to the village of Rockport, as well as neighbouring municipalities, about the quality and the process of making fine art and craft, is to be commended.

This kind of funding creates partnerships with other businesses and galleries in the village, as well as supporting the historic old school house.

Many of our customers ate, drank and shopped while visiting our art event.

Finally, thanks again to our Township, our taxpayers and our government for making this kind of funding accessible to our community.

Margot Miller, Rockport

Reader responds to ‘Canada Day disaster’

To the editor:

Regarding Thursday’s letter to the editor from Ms. Isabelle Gingras (“Canada Day disaster in Brockville,” July 6, 2017) that referred to Canada Day in Brockville as a “disaster,” please permit me to add my family’s perspective.

Eleven of the 12 of us were able to be in Brockville for the celebration.

Over the Canada Day weekend, we zip-lined at Skywood Eco Adventure Park, participated in the Brockville Road Runners 5k race, picked strawberries, shopped at a very good Saturday morning market, slurped ice cream cones at O’Mally’s Fudgery, hosted our annual turkey dinner party for family and friends and enjoyed the fireworks.

Of course, I won’t include the board games we played or the backyard games of ladderball as a family.

When family members departed on Monday, I heard nothing but good comments about Canada Day 150 in Brockville.

Rick Swift, Brockville

Canada Day disaster in Brockville

To the editor:

With “Canada 150” flags flying about the city for a few months in anticipation of our great country’s 150th birthday, my family and I were eager to celebrate Canada’s history, its present and its future. I wanted to express my gratitude for my nation and with my community. I assumed that Brockville applied for a Celebrate Canada federal grant and used that money to organize a party worthy of the occasion.

We were glad that the rain was warm on Canada day; it would make the celebrations that much more memorable. After taking care of a few things, my husband, pre-schooler, baby and I finally drove to Hardy Park around 2:30 p.m., Canada day paraphernalia and all. The scene was immediately underwhelming. The usual charities and vendors were set up throughout the park. The “highlight” was a Teddy Bear picnic and a Teddy Bear hospital and a tent who was giving children large balloons. There was no music, no entertainment; there were no signs of a Canada Day party. We walked to Blockhouse Island, hopeful to celebrate Canada’s big 1-5-0 with others.

We met a confused and frustrated crowd at the entrance of Blockhouse Island. People who wanted to access the Canada Day “events” were required to pay a $10 per person fee to see the boat race (the annual 1000 Islands Regatta). If you chose not to pay for the boat show, you were denied access to the other “events”.

Tourists that chose to dock at Blockhouse Island to celebrate the long weekend were told that if they left Blockhouse Island to buy food and necessities, or just walk around town, they had to purchase a boat show ticket to get back to their boat.

What a magical time to be a tourist in Brockville.

Frustrated but determined to celebrate, we paid the twenty dollars (the children had free access) for what turned out to be face painting (which cost extra, by the way), balloon animals, bumper boppers (for those old enough to play: ie: not my children) and a giant inflatable game of darts. Off to the side were a few games of sandbags, but in the place of the sandbags were tennis balls.

My daughter asked to have her face painted. The artists did a beautiful painting of a fox on her tiny face. It was her favourite part of the day. She got a balloon animal and was happy about that. For the sake of the children, we reached way down inside to find the enthusiasm and pretend like this was a party. We excitingly pointed to Canadian flags, talked about Canada and broke into O’ Canada a few times before we bought the pre-schooler and baby an ice cream cone and called it a day.

My husband and I went home bitterly disappointed.

We saw the fireworks the next evening, which were beautiful.

What happened to Canada’s 150th Birthday Party, Brockville? Did Brockville apply for a grant, unsuccessfully? Did the city decide to use all of the Canada Day funds on the giant rubber duck coming through in August? Please, someone, explain to me why our great country’s 150th birthday was not a priority in Brockville.

Isabelle Gingras, Brockville

Stop school closures already taking place

To the editor:

It has been brought to Ontarians’ attention that the process used regarding school closures and/or student relocation, by school board trustees, has been flawed. It has been stated that there is a need for an overhaul of the process used by school boards to review schools for potential closure and/or student relocation.

It has also been reported that the minister of education, Mitzie Hunter, has admitted that the ministry needs “… to make sure this revised process benefits everyone,” (6/28/2017 – Postmedia).

There are articles which state that the school boards have not been upholding the purpose of the Education Act, which includes that “All partners in the education sector, including the Minister, the Ministry and the boards, have a role to play in enhancing student achievement and well-being, closing gaps in student achievement and maintaining confidence in the province’s publicly funded education systems.” (section 0.1 (3)).

In a Postmedia article, dated June 28, 2017, it was stated:

“Clear principles and goals for student achievement and well-being should be established for reviews, rather than just cost-savings,” she added.

“We heard that a stronger process is needed for school boards,” she said, adding that no new pupil accommodation reviews will take place until the process is complete, except for those that would support joint-use projects or for student safety.

In light of these revelations, perhaps all of the school closures and student relocations scheduled from 2017-2018, for implementation in the 2018-2019 school year, should be cancelled. That would be the fair, reasonable and equitable thing to do. When one considers that these closures have been referred to as “brutal. Students suffer and parents grieve,”(5/15/2017 – The Star), it would not be in the students’ best interest or well-being for the present closures and/or relocations to move forward.

The stopping of the school closures and/or relocation of students would have to take place prior to the beginning of the 2018 school year.

It is hoped that the minister of education, Mitzie Hunter, will move on this initiative to ensure that all schools remain open and that students are not relocated at the cost to the students’ well-being or the communities these closures will affect.

This festival was advertised as a family friendly event. I question who was in charge of the music entertainment.

Not one lead singer in any band that played in Hardy Park over that weekend (June 23-25) could sing consistently in the same musical key as the instruments. At one point on Friday night, both singers and the guitar player were performing in different keys.

Most of the songs were sung flat. They need to join a local choir or take lessons. Perhaps the result of the cessation of music as a formal subject in our educational system is starting to show up in our society. I doubt any of these lead singers could sing a basic musical scale. The live bands were mostly can belto.

Friday evening’s decibel level was dangerous, particularly for children. Saturday’s volume was also too loud. I could FEEL the bass beat in the floor of my condo!

The target audience is no more than 200 feet away. When it comes to music, quite often, less is more. No need for the people inside our homes with the windows closed to be subjected to this poor quality music.

I would not take any child to an uncontrolled event such as this. If whoever hires these bands would take a look at the demographics of the crowd, they would realize Black Sabbath/Iron Maiden/Can Belto is not appropriate.

Wray Axworthy, Brockville

Gan’s Blinkbonnie house in need of public support

To the editor:

On August 3, 2016 Wayne Lowrie wrote an article in The Recorder and Times entitled “Restoration in store for historic Blinkbonnie,” after the Blinkbonnie house in Gananoque was sold.

However, less than six months later, this historic house was up for sale again.

Blinkbonnie means, “glimpse of beauty” in Scots Gaelic. The Macdonald-Stone Foundation, a non-profit Canadian organization, has been founded to save Blinkbonnie.

Blinkbonnie was first constructed in 1812 and is a heritage building and a part of the town’s heritage and history. The Stone and Macdonald families founded, developed and expanded the area and commerce in Gananoque.

The Macdonald-Stone Foundation is dedicated to the purchase and restoration of Blinkbonnie and its history.

The foundation is holding an “open house” at Blinkbonnie, on Saturday, July 8, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m..

The event will include historic information and the Blinkbonnie Oral History Project, which aims to collect stories from people about Blinkbonnie.

There will also be refreshments, music, raffles, a video and photo booth, etc.

The foundation has five direct descendants from the original builder of Blinkbonnie, Charles Macdonald, who married the daughter of Joel Stone, the town’s founder.

More information is available on the Facebook page, Save Blinkbonnie.
Judith McLaughlin, Macdonald-Stone Foundation